Suspended for Gross Misconduct - Help! :(

Lady007

mikey72 wrote: »

Maybe, but they are considering unauthorised absence, if this is the reaction normally, it's not automatically discrimination.

That's my point. It is not unauthorised - her Manager said she could go. As part of her defence she has to be believed by the employer that she was sick - not absent without consent - even if the correct procedure wasn't followed ito allow her to go home.

A lot stems on what the OP did when she returned to work the next day v what she should have done according to her sickness policy.

mikey72

Lady007 wrote: »

That's my point. It is not unauthorised - her Manager said she could go. As part of her defence she has to be believed by the employer that she was sick - not absent without consent - even if the correct procedure wasn't followed ito allow her to go home.

A lot stems on what the OP did when she returned to work the next day v what she should have done according to her sickness policy.

I thought your advise in the first post was to play the pregnant card, which in this case is a side issue, and may be not the best strategy.
The procedure wasn't followed, that has been stated already, and the manager has been said to claim the story is somewhat diferent, so I wouldn't depend on him, but would plead a misunderstanding had happened.
The sanction of dismissal seems severe for a first instance, I would have thought that should have been the focus as well.

Lady007

jdturk wrote: »

thats presuming your still ill when you go see the dr, what if your fully better, would a dr still sign a sick note without actually seeing anything to indicate you were ill....I doubt it

Yes they would. Think about it.

If you were off work for a week because you suffered from the vomiting bug thats going around - which DR is going to ask you to bring the evidence?!! :rotfl:

mikey72

Lady007 wrote: »

Yes they would. Think about it.

If you were off work for a week because you suffered from the vomiting bug thats going around - which DR is going to ask you to bring the evidence?!! :rotfl:

Ours wouldn't, you would have to phone him at the start, he's prescribe based on history or a visit, and then write a note if you need one.

jdturk

i find it incredible that you could go to a dr a week or two after an alledged illness and go, 'can you sign this for me to say that that thursday i was ill'

Just can't see it

DCFC79

Lady007 wrote: »

Yes they would. Think about it.

If you were off work for a week because you suffered from the vomiting bug thats going around - which DR is going to ask you to bring the evidence?!! :rotfl:

or surely the dr would visit the patient at home and do what is required

firesidemaid

stop arguing - chocolate buttons needs our help!

agree with another poster, what did the letter say re. your right to be accompanied?

you company should have a disciplinary policy - if you don't already have a copy you could do with one before thurs. does your employer have a website with this info? if not, it would be reasonable for you to phone HR and ask for one to be sent in time that you receive it before thurs.

i wonder why they waited until 4pm to tell you - what time do you normally finish? in fact what are your normal hours and when would you normally go for lunch?

did any of your colleagues see you looking ill on thursday? have you been feeling queasy on any other days (that colleagues have seen)?

has anyone in your knowledge had unauthorised absence or been accused of it before? if so, what was the outcome?

i too cannot understand how this has got this far already - it is just one person's word against the other. is your line manager/their job at risk or under threat at all?

try to keep calm, there are others who will also be along to help you out.

midnight_ninja

Make sure first of all you have someone to go in representing you , if you are a union member then there will normally be someone in your store who acts as a store rep for the union, if not you can ask a friend or maybe the line manager who sent you home ? ,normally it will say in the letter that you must arrange representation yourself , also (at least to my knowledge of working in a personnel dept) the managers / supervisors normally dont tell us of all sickness / absence in a day and we have never given anyone a hearing for gross misconduct for it unless they have consistently not came into work when supposed to!! i could understand if you just went home and never told anyone but someone was aware of it , maybe it is miscommunication , the hearing will properly end up being a waste of time.

Hope it goes well, dont think you have anything to worry about

firesidemaid

hi there.

are you ok - are you able to tell us how your meeting went, well i hope?